2. The Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self- confidence for Britain.

3. Agricultural and industrial revolutions England was the first country to undergo the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions

4. Rich and poor Victorian families Many poor children lived in tiny country cottages or in city slums. Many children had to work. Rich families had large houses, with a special room for children called the nursery.

5. Child labour The Victorian era became notorious for the employment of young children in factories and mines.

6. To be a governess Daughters of rich parents were educated at home by governesses, while sons went to public school. Governesses were relatively well educated but were often lonely and unhappy. They were seen as servants by their employers but as higher status by the other servants and so did not belong to either group.

7. Compulsory education The Elementary Education Act 1870, created the concept of compulsory education for children under thirteen. Ten years after the Elementary Education Act 1880 insisted on compulsory attendance from 5–10 years.

8. Victorian literature

9. Victorian novels tend to be idealized portraits of difficult lives in which hard work, perseverance, love and luck win out in the end; virtue would be rewarded and wrongdoers are suitably punished. While this formula was the basis for much of earlier Victorian fiction, the situation became more complex as the century progressed.

10. The Brontë sisters

11. The Brontë sisters wrote fiction rather different from that common at the time. Away from the big cities and the literary society, Anne, Charlotte and Emily Brontë had time in their short lives to produce masterpieces of fiction although these were not immediately appreciated by Victorian critics.

12. Jane Eyre; the book

13. Jane Eyre, a penniless and unattractive orphan, becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall and falls in love with Edward Rochester, the guardian of her ward. But she soon discovers that he is hiding a terrible secret…

14. After reading 1: Why did Jane Eyre lived with Mrs Reed? a. Because she liked her. b. Because she didn’t like her own home. c.Because her parents were dead. d. Because she was an only child.

15. 2: What is the name of the room where Jane is locked up? a. The red room. b. The lady’s room. c. The green room. d. The downstairs room.

16. 3: Who is Jane’s friend who dies in her arms? a. Mildred b. Eliza c. Helen d. Alice

17. 4: Where does Jane go after leaving Loowod school? a. Black Orphanage b. Thornfield Hall c. Grammar School d. Yorkshire

18. 5: What is Adèle Varens’ relationship to Edward Rochester? a. She is his ward. b. She is his daughter. c. She is his niece. d. She is his neighbour.

19. 6: How does Jane save Rochester from the fire? a. By dragging him to safety. b. By waking him and helping him downstairs. c. By asking for help. d. By putting out the fire herself.

20. 7: Who interrupted Jane and Mr Rochester’s wedding? a. The clergyman b. Miss Ingram c. Grace Poole d. Mr Mason

21. 8: Where does Jane end up after she escapes Thornfield? a. At the Lockhead estate b. At the home of the Rivers family c. In India d. In London

22. 9: When Jane returns to Thornfield what does she find? a. That it has been remodeled and is unrecognizable. b. That it has been sold to greedy neighbours. c. That it has burned. d. That it is for sale.

23. 10: How has Rochester changed when he and Jane are reunited? a. He has typhus. b. He has gone insane. c. He has a limp. d. He has lost an eye and a hand.

24. The film

26. The truth

27. After watching discussion 1. Why did Mr Rochester marry Bertha Mason? 2. What was the problem with her after their marriage? 3. If Jane Eyre says she would do anything to secure Rochester’s happiness, why does she leave him? 4. Why leaving Rochester is a big step for her? 5. Is she doing what is right for her? In which sense?